Passengers would be allowed to take their pet cats or dogs on certain Amtrak trains under a bill introduced yesterday in Congress. The measure drew praise from The Humane Society of the United States and its lobbying affiliate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund. U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., introduced the legislation. In our opinion, this is a great way for Amtrak to further distinguish itself from air travel and is another of many reasons why so many people will want to take trains.

“Millions of American families have beloved pets, and allowing them to travel by train will support the human-animal bond,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “We are grateful to Congressmen Denham and Cohen for introducing this common-sense legislation to help pet owners.”

Rep. Denham said, “My dog, Lily, is part of our family and travels with us to and from California all the time. If I can take her a on a plane, why can’t I travel with her on Amtrak, too? Allowing families to bring their animals with them will facilitate transportation and efficiency while also providing a much-needed source of revenue for Amtrak.”

Amtrak currently does not accept animals unless they are assistance dogs. Passengers traveling on Amtrak must either leave their pets at home or seek alternate transportation. This can result in additional hardship and expense on behalf of the owner if Amtrak, the national rail operator, with more than 500 destinations, is their only option for transportation to a particular area. Read more about rail travel on GoNOMAD Travel.